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Session 1658

Development of a Web-Based Environmental Impact, Monitoring and Assessment Course

Randall Guensler, Paul Chinowsky, Christopher Conklin School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

The information revolution has had a dramatic effect on engineering education in the 1990’s. Educators and students alike have witnessed a dramatic shift from traditional teaching methods and tools to a new, innovative, interactive approach. What began as the simple use of computers and information technology for student projects has developed into the large scale use of computer software demonstrations, multimedia lecture presentations, World Wide Web and on- line course materials, and educational materials placed on CD-ROM.

This paper addresses one ongoing effort to develop World Wide Web and multimedia educational materials for courses in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. This specific project reported here is the development of a Web-based environmental impact assessment course. Many different types of educational materials for the course are being provided to students via the World Wide Web. These materials include: course readings, on-line government regulations and documents, public domain computer models and hands-on modeling assignments, case studies, research paper assignments, and midterm and final examinations. Additionally, lecture overheads and instructor’s notes, prepared in Microsoft PowerPoint, are provided over the Web for use as speaking notes in the classroom. This paper outlines the integration of computer technology in the classroom and the development of the electronic version of the syllabus and course readings.

Introduction

Over the past ten years, university and professional extension engineering education programs have increasingly offered environmental education. Scores of Civil Engineering programs throughout the nation have expanded their curriculum focus to become Civil and Environmental Engineering programs during this period. When the University of California at Davis changed the name of their program to Civil and Environmental Engineering, more than 100 change-of- major applications were received, even though the program requirements and course content did not change at that time.

The increased demand for environmental education in all engineering disciplines is not surprising. Environmental law, regulation, and policy drive many of the engineering tasks associated with civil infrastructure projects. The tremendous knowledge base associated with environmental law and regulations cuts across all engineering disciplines. The ability to understand these complex environmental issues and regulatory requirements, and to identify associated environmental resources provides a distinct advantage to practicing engineers.

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Guensler, R., & Conklin, C., & Chinowsky, P. S. (1997, June), Development Of A Web Based Environmental Impact, Monitoring And Assessment Course Paper presented at 1997 Annual Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 10.18260/1-2--6509